Footwear vulcanizer



Sept. 25, 1945.

l. J. LARKIN ETAL FOOTWEAR VULCANIZER Filed Aug. 25, 1944 3 sheets-sheet 1 4 @Z242 22 a5 25 J7 mam.,

Sept. 25, 1945. L. '.1. LARKIN ETAL FOOTWEAR VULCANIZER Filed Aug. 25, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JJJzega/n,

Sept. 25, 1945. L. J. LARKIN E-rAL FOOTWEAR VULCANIZER Filed Aug. 25, 1944 3 sheets-sheet :s

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Patented Sept. 25, 1945 Leo James Larkin, Gerald A. Larkin, and JohnJ.l Y

Regan, La Crosse, Wis., assignors to La Crosse Rubber Mills Company, La Crosse, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin l Application August 25, 1944, serial No. l551,214

2 Claims.

The invention aims to provide a new and improved vulcani'zer designed primarily for use in the manufacture of rubber footwear, which will produce more uniform vulcanizing than vulcanizers of the types commonly in use, andwill be rapid and desirable from all standpoints. AnotherV Objectis to provide a novel vulcanizer having rotatable supports provided with radial spokes with which racks loaded with footwear or other articles may be rapidly and easily engaged, said loaded racks being removable from said spokes with equal facility after the vulcanizing operation.

A further object is to provide a novel construction in which the aforesaid rotatablesupports may be adjusted into as closely spaced relation with each other as the articles and racks will permit, and to provide for the insertion of one or more additional supports when the necessary space is available, to insure operation at full capacity, said construction also allowing adjustment of the supportsv in to more widely spaced relation and removal of one or more if necessary, when larger articles and racks are to be inserted. A still further object is to provide a vulcanizing unit which can be more readily locatedin close proximity to that section of a footwear factory where the previous step in manufacture is carried out, thereby eliminating. the necessity for conveyors and heater cars now commonly used and permitting the making, curing and packing of shoes at one given location, reducing lloor. space requirements, giving greater usage of lasts, and effecting savings in investment, time and labor, power and maintenance.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings. Y

. Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on liner 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a portionI of one of the rotatable supports and its mountingvr means, and yshowing one of the racks engaged with one of the radial spokes of said support.

Fig. 4 is a detail section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

v Fig. 5 is a detail section showing a slight modification.

, In the drawings above briefly described, one form of construction has been illustrated, and while that construction will be specically explained, it is to be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

A vertical casing 5 is shown, said casing having a cylindrical side wall 6, a bottom 1, and a top 8. The bottom 'l and rtop 8 are shown of concavoconvexform, the convex sides of said bottom and topbeing disposedoutwardly, but said bottom and topA could Well be ofl other suitable shape. The entire casing mayvwell be covered and/or lined with thermal insulation (not shown).

The top 8 in theV present disclosure, is provided with a removable vcentral section 9 which carries a suitablecentral bearing assembly l) for the shaft l l of a rotary fan l2, said shaft being driven in any, suitable way, for example, by abelt and pulley `drive I3 from an electric motor or the like. If desired, a plurality of fans could be employed. The side wall G may either be provided with one talldoor or may have a plurality of doors at different elevations. In thepresent disclosure, two doors lll and iii are shown, and there may be a third (not shown) for giving access to the upper end portion of the casing interior. The doors may be constructed and mounted in any suitable way and provided with any appropriate means i for `clamping them in' closed position.

A sleeve I8 which is openat both of its ends, is mounted vertically inthe central portion oi the casing, and supporting klegs for said sleeve have been illustrated at Il. .Tie rods for bracing l the upper end of the sleeve, are shown atla.

The lower end of the sleeve I6 isspaced upwardly from -the casing bottom l and this bottom may Well carry a conical air deflector I8..` It is preferableto provide appropriate means i9, whereby the deflector I8 may be vertically adjusted.`

The upper end of the sleevel I6 is downwardly spaced from the top`8, and acrosssaid upper end of said sleeve, we have shown a nned air-heating radiator A2l) preferably utilizing steam as the heating medium, but it will be understood `that electrical or other heating means 'could be substituted if desired.

L A pipe 2l (Fig. 1) is shown forfadmitting air under pressure to the casing 5to maintain preferably about lbs. pressure in said casing whil vulcanizing.

Vertically spaced annular openwork supports 22 are provided in the casing 5 around the sleeve I6 and are rotatably mounted to facilitate loading vand unloading. Each support includes an outer ring 123, an inner ring denoted at 24 in most views but shown irl-modified form at 24P- in Fig. 5, and radial spokes 25 welded or otherwise secured tosaid outer and inner rings. Each spoke 25 is providedwith a longitudinal track 26 at its lower side, said track being preferably'of slotted tubular form constructed (see Figs. 3 and 4) by welding or otherwise :securing angle-metal bars 2l to said spoke with their lowerangesw28 underlying and spaced below said spoke, said flanges 28 being horizontally spaced from eachother to leave a slot 29. The outer ends 30 of the vertical ilanges 3| of the bars 21 preferably project beyond the horizontal flanges 28 and are bent into outwardly diverging relation to provide the slotted tubular track 215v with a flared entrance.throat.,k Y Y Racks32`fo,r holding;r the articles. tio bev-ul-f canized, are provided, said racks being readily engageable with and removable from the traclniJ In the present disclosure, each rack 32' comprises an elongated head 33 slidablc'sintoethe.

from opposite sides of said bar inldirectionss at@ right angles to `the length of vsaid head 33, two lower horizontal arms 36 projecting laterally from the lower end of said bar 34-inthe`same-diree-- tions as said upper arms 35, and a third, lowen arm 31 projecting laterally and upwardly from said bar 34- ina direction Latl right angles-to `saidr arms-36; said1arrn-31l having-fa-headonns free end-'Which-inclinestowardithe baraw. 'Ilhearms 35 and 361' areprovided" with` upstanding-- verticalpin's-39g and1the-head3l-ofarm 31 carrieslindined-pins 40; allvof` said pins beingl receivable inthe-usual sockets-:oilY shoe-lasts= Mi which1 carryv the rubberfootwear 42# t0` besvulcanized'. T-he- 1ower-end Aof \the-bar-`3lis preferably@ formedwith a--proiectionlextending awaysfrom the arm-3l andic-arrying-the-arms36i- Each-rack 32,1wlierrconstructed1as shown,- will carry -velastss and shoesz and; the entire; .vula c-anizerv'will,U therefore, havelargeA capacity. R'ackssoflothersizesandlshapes may of coi-insane4 provided forI e-arryingathen articles toH bevulf.

canized; bootssforL-example; 1 ForA rotatably..and-LadjustablynI mounting the supports 2 2.; suitable -.supporting; and thrust. rolleA ers are provided.L In `llli'gs.` 140.3-,A inner: 4.4i are mounted .onlthe-ringsl-Zd:andrestl uponzcircular tracks A5 wliich` are boltedi at-A to l .vertical barsAl, saidbarspeingL secured tcntha sleeve llor otherwise mounted.A 'Il'iese=bafrs;4lhave ven-` tically. spaced .openings-.4&1 for. permitting'vertical adj ustrnentfofz the;A tracks'` ll5-r rollers:l da areshown rnountedeon webs..5f.and;abuttingthe periphery. of ,the .tracks'isaidzwebs beingzzweldaed to the.ringslmandtoisomelothe-spnkesl; The inner. ring 2Af..(E'g. 5.)* rests;upon;rollers one .of which is showrrat AL-.bracketils snpports.` the rollerf 44s; and l' isabolted. ati5'2i tenthe. sleeveifor ve-rltiealtadjustment; In this-view, a; thrustroller. disshownmounted on the'ing 2.,llr'- andabuttingfthe aforesaid; sleeveln Y Y Wether.- the-1 inner: ringi of` eachisupportllcbemounted as seen in Figs. 1 to 3 or. in-itheymanner: shownin Fig. 5', the-outer ringi23spreferablyfrests on. rollers. lil-L` carried; bysbrackets 54; which;Y are; bolted at..5.5: toflxed bars-.5 usecuredttotheicasing. wall 6 or otherwise mounted, said barsiehavf. ingspacedopenings Lto permit vertical adjustment .of saidbraeketsf. 54;. t Either. Way: of:` mounting the. supportsl 22A per.:l

' mits=.,vertical adjllsmentto-f themrinto: aslclose; i

relation with eachrotherzasthez racks-:armi the' articles; to, be; vulcanized-L will. vermin tc.. allow loading; of thevulcanizerf to maximumA capacity,

and when said supports#Zarefadjtusted, intoI Ysaid close relation, one or, more, supports mayI be,

by passing said loaded racks through the doors and..engag ing. them with theltracks, 2li,y the llingvjoperation. being facilitated by; rotating the supports 22. Then the doors are closed, the proper air pressure is admitted, the heating `-means 20 is brought into operation, and the fan lt'i'sad'riiven.

of, hot` air, continuously in the casing 5 around This fan creates a circulation the articles, insuring uniform and rapid vulcanizinge,v Unloading of the vulcanized articles Weclaixn:`v l; Al vulcanizer; ncernprising; aa 'cylindrical pressureftight casing; having axis;- disposed vertically, said:;casing having at;least- .one door in its Vertical side wall, means for admitting. compressed air', to said/,casing to@ place; thev articles.1 to. be vulcanizedigunderf pressure; avertical cylindrical.sleeyefsee-uredcentrallyfinisaid;casing to; provide aA vulcanizin-g spacerl between said sleeve, andsa-idcasi-ng sidefwalhsaid sleeven havjngopen ends spacedV inwardly fromctlie-scasi-ng ends.. circular horizontal openworkf supports,

' surroundingsaid sleeve. ---to -support .articlesgtd be vulcanized, in` said. vulcanizing; spaceg' meansroftatably. mounting said-` supnortain verticall spaced, relation forrotation,; abouti the; axisi of said; sleeve. togfani-l-itateT loading and; unloading of said ,supports through.. said door,- ane air-heaty ing;M radiator, extending., across.;- said sleevefv for heating theA casing-contained; compressed f to ai vulcanizingI terrinerature;.l and.- al rota-ry fan axially: alined.. W-ithf saidr sleeve for'- circulating theyhot compressed ain througlle` said-' radiator; said, sleevef and ysaid;Lvulcaznilgf, snacez.

A vulcanizerl'- comprising: at. cylindrical pressure--tighty casingg having; itsA disposed vertically, said castrarA haring; at: leasif. one: door its.. vertical; side: Wall; means- .fonA admitting compressed-rain tsaid casingr tor-placezthe arti. cles. to, befY vulcanizedi unden pre'ssur: a; vertical csrlindricalfsleevee secured centrally. in saidfcasing to provide a vulcanizing space between said:

sleeve and saidrcasingssidawali; saidisleevehaving open; ends; spazcedsinwa'rd'ly from the casing ends, circular horizontal openwork supports. sur rounding; saidi sleeve; to: support:A articles to. be vulcanized:.in1 said: vulcanizing.: space, .means rotatablyr mouniix'ig, saidi supports 1. vertically spaced: rela/Giorn for a' rotation; about the axis. of said; sleeve; to ;facilitate: lo'adingl4 and zunloadiir'g.` of sai-d. i supportsethrougli; said :'door, an air-heating radiator extending across the upper endil' per-- tion oi; Said; sleeve; for: heating? the casing-contained:e compressed:air tofza vulcaniz-ingr tempera Y turenandaa rotary fan axiallyfa'linedrwith,Said

sleeveand: mounted-:over sald radiator for' cirr culatingr. the hot compressedY air .downwardly through said radiator andsl'eeve-w and upwardly througl'rsaidfvulcanizingaspacezl 1' LEOJAMESlLARKN-E y Ai. UARKIN; :'jJDI-INJI 

